Method and apparatus for securing unprotected content files from unauthorized use

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided that check for the existence of a media player cracking tool that is used to sniff, or capture, unprotected content rendered by a media player that uses DRM protection. If a media player cracking tool is detected, the corresponding content file will not be decrypted.

1 . An apparatus for securing unprotected content files from unauthorized use, the apparatus comprising:
 a user device comprising:
 at least a first memory device; 
 a decryption component configured to decrypt content files; and 
 at least a first processor configured to perform a scan algorithm that scans a computational device of the apparatus to detect an existence of one or more tools used to capture unencrypted content to be rendered by a media player, wherein if the processor detects the existence of one or more of said tools, the processor prevents a requested content file from being decrypted by the decryption component. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein if the processor detects the existence of one or more of said tools, the processor causes an indication that the existence of one or more of said tools has been detected to be stored in a protected memory location in the first memory device, wherein the protected memory location corresponds to one or more addresses in the first memory device of the apparatus. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein when a content file is requested, the processor reads a value stored in the protected memory location and determines whether the value corresponds to an indication that one or more of said tools have been detected, wherein if the processor determines that the value corresponds to an indication that one or more of said tools have been detected, the processor prevents the requested content file from being decrypted. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein if the processor determines that the value corresponds to an indication that one or more of said tools have been detected, the processor causes a message to be conveyed to a user of the apparatus to inform the user that one or more of said tools have been detected. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the message that is conveyed to the user also informs the user with information regarding how the detected tool or tools can be removed from the apparatus, wherein if the user removes the detected tool or tools from the apparatus, the processor causes the value stored in the protected memory location to be changed to indicate that one or more of said tools have not been detected. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a subscriber identity module (SIM) integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
 a SIM interface configured to provide a communications channel between the user device and the SIM; 
 at least a second memory device, the second memory device storing one or more keys for decrypting content files; and 
 at least a second processor configured to retrieve one or more decrypting keys associated with a particular content file from the second memory device, the second processor being capable of causing the key or keys to be sent to the user device via the SIM interface, the first processor receiving a key or keys sent to the user device via the SIM interface, the first processor causing the key or keys received via the SIM interface to be sent to the decryption component if the first processor fails to detect the existence of one or more of said tools, the decryption component using the received key or keys to decrypt an associated content file. 
   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein if the first processor detects the existence of one or more of said tools, the first processor causes an indication that the existence of one or more of said tools has been detected to be sent to the SIM IC via the SIM interface, the second processor causing the indication to be stored in a protected memory location in the second memory device, wherein the protected memory location corresponds to one or more addresses in the second memory device. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein when a content file is requested, the first processor sends a request to the second processor via the SIM interface that causes the second processor to read a value stored in the protected memory location and determine whether the value corresponds to an indication that one or more of said tools has been detected, wherein if the second processor determines that the value indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected, the second processor sends a message to the first processor via the SIM interface indicating that the value stored in the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein if the second processor determines that the value stored in the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected, the second processor prevents the key or keys associated with the requested content file from being sent to the user device. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first processor is also configured to perform a checker algorithm that checks said indication stored in protected memory to determine when the scan algorithm was most recently performed, and wherein if the first processor determines that the most recent performance of the scan algorithm did not occur sufficiently recently, the first processor prevents a media rendering tool from being used by the user device. 
   
   
       11 . A method for securing unprotected content to be rendered by a media player, the method comprising:
 performing a scan algorithm that scans an apparatus and determines whether an one or more tools exist on the apparatus that are used to capture unencrypted content rendered by a media player; and   if a determination is made that one or more of said tools have been detected, storing an indication that one or more of said tools has been detected in a protected memory location of a memory device, the protected memory location corresponding to one or more addresses of the memory device.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 reading a value stored in the protected memory location;   determining whether or not the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected;   if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected, preventing a requested content file from being decrypted; and   if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has not been detected, causing a requested content file to be decrypted.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected, causing an indication that said one or more tools has been detected to be provided to a user.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 periodically changing the address or addresses corresponding to the protected memory location.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the protected memory location corresponds to one or more addresses in a memory device of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integrated circuit (IC). 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the memory device of the SIM IC also has keys stored therein that are used to decrypt content files, the method further comprising:
 if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has not been detected, causing a key or keys associated with a requested content file to be retrieved from the memory device and forwarded to a decryption component to enable the decryption component to decrypt the requested content file.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the memory device of the SIM IC also has keys stored therein that are used to decrypt content files, the method further comprising:
 if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected, preventing a key or keys associated with a requested content file from being forwarded to a decryption component to thereby prevent the decryption component from being able to decrypt the requested content file.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 performing a checker algorithm that checks said indication read from protected memory to determine when the scan algorithm was most recently performed; and   if a determination is made that the most recent performance of the scan algorithm did not occur sufficiently recently, preventing a media rendering tool from being used by the user device.   
   
   
       19 . A computer program for securing unprotected content to be rendered by a media player, the program being stored on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising:
 instructions for performing a scan algorithm that scans an apparatus and determines whether one or more tools exist on that apparatus that are used to capture unencrypted content rendered by a media player; and   instructions for storing an indication that one or more of said tools has been detected in a protected memory location of a memory device if a determination is made that one or more of said tools have been detected, the protected memory location corresponding to one or more addresses of the memory device.   
   
   
       20 . The computer program of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 instructions for reading a value stored in the protected memory location;   instructions for determining whether or not the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected;   instructions for preventing a requested content file from being decrypted if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected; and   instructions for causing a requested content file to be decrypted if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has not been detected   
   
   
       21 . The computer program of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 instructions for causing an indication that said one or more tools has been detected to be provided to a user if a determination is made that the value read from the protected memory location indicates that one or more of said tools has been detected.